In the late winter months, as spring hints at arrival, my husband starts planting seeds. Hundreds of seeds. He carefully tends them, daily watering, providing well-timed light, and checking on their growth. He divides and repots. He eventually moves them outdoors before planting. Finally, when the back porch is filled with hundreds of beautiful garden-ready plants, we start giving them away by the handful, box-full, or car-full.

As I am sitting looking at beautiful summer garden plants, this process has prompted me to consider what we are planting in Kingdom soil. Are we planting seeds of hope? Are we planting seeds of truth? Are we planting mature Christ-followers in businesses in our town, across our region, and around the world? Are we sharing the Good News so that fruit can be harvested?

There are three specific ways we want to invite you as individuals and as congregations to consider planting something this year:

Plant with Prayer – We have seen God doing amazing things across our conference in response to the prayers of his people: individuals experiencing healing, conflicts being resolved and people reconciled, churches growing, and communities being impacted by the faithful presence of the Church. Please pray with us that God will continue to move in our midst and that good fruit would result in our families, churches, and communities. You can download our monthly prayer calendar here.

Consider a Benevolence Gift – At times, we as a Church have opportunity to support brothers and sisters who are struggling to meet needs that are too weighty for them alone. Four years ago, a Susquehanna Benevolence Fund was established to assist credentialed pastors experiencing significant financial crises. As a result of your generosity in funding the Benevolence Fund, we have been able to care for numerous pastoral families. But by the end of 2024, the Benevolence Fund had been almost depleted. So, we are asking again that you as individuals or congregations consider making a gift to the Susquehanna Benevolence Fund. You can do so by using this PayPal link or by sending a check to the Susquehanna Regional Conference office at: 431 Grantham Rd., Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Launch a New Endeavor – Every time we plant seeds, we do so in faith. Faith they will grow! If God is prompting you to reach out in new ways with the Good News, we encourage you to do so. Maybe it’s starting a prayer time with a handful of believers at your place of work. Maybe it’s reaching out with a welcome gift for new neighbors or starting a neighborhood gathering. Maybe it’s launching a new ministry in your local congregation, a new service, or planning for a new church plant.

Nothing will grow if we don’t risk planting seeds and nurturing those seeds with loving and persistent care. Even though we are spread out across Central Pennsylvania, there are many ways that we can plant together and encourage one another in the planting. We plant in faith, trusting that God is leading and that he will continue to bear good fruit! We celebrate harvest moments, and we continue to share the Good News.

Blessings,

Bishop Heather & the Susquehanna Leadership Team